Voucher in sexual harassment trial contradicts claim made by plaintiff

Evidence indicates man was not in Chicago, as he claimed

March 21, 2008|By Deanese Williams-Harris, Tribune reporter

On a day when a former state worker claimed he was sexually harassed by his former boss in Chicago, a travel voucher showed he was not in the city, the defense said Thursday in federal court.

Carlos Estes alleges that on May 21, 2003, Illinois Department of Human Services chief of staff Teyonda Wertz asked him to spend the night at her South Side home. But according to a travel voucher produced by the defense in the sexual harassment lawsuit trial against the agency, Estes was in Springfield on that day.

Estes testified that although the signature on the document was his, he questioned the voucher's validity.

"It looks like something that could have been fabricated to me," Estes said under questioning by William Anderson III, a lawyer representing the agency.

"Who fabricated it?" Anderson asked.

"The Department of Human Services, obviously," Estes said.

The judge allowed the document to be admitted into evidence Thursday despite objections by Estes' lawyers, who said they were surprised by it.

Estes testified that Wertz suggested he spend the night to avoid getting up early the next morning to drive her and a friend to Midway Airport for a personal vacation.

In the suit Estes said he was first harassed by Wertz on May 6, 2003, when the two shared a hotel room in Springfield while on state business. He also alleges he was fired by the department after he reported the incident.

Carol Adams, the department's head, testified earlier in the week that Estes was fired for misusing a state vehicle on three separate occasions.

Estes broke down on the stand for a second day as he described his work relationship with Wertz.

"She was a person that I looked up to. I respected her. I really thought I was going to be able to work with her for some time," Estes said.

He also said he sought counseling after being dismissed from his $70,000-a-year job, and added he viewed Wertz as a mother figure and a mentor, not a girlfriend.